Improvement in devices for pointing horseshoe-nails



C HARLES HPERm-Njs 117-5 6 0 improved HORSE SHOE NAIL P INTCUTTER. [Elem-:0 to we AMERICAN HORSEWQ" MAI-L QOMPAE' Pmmn AUG -1 1871 WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. PERKINS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,-ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN HORSE-NAIL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR POINTING HORSESHOE -NAILS Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,560, dated August 1, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, CHARLES H. PERKINS, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain Improvements in HorseshoeNail-Point Cutters, of which the following is a specification:

The invention relates to the combination of a cutting-die, formed of any desired capacity at pleasure by the adjustment of two square end plates so as to receive a punch, the lower surface of which is made at such an angle that it and the edges of the die act much like dual-shears in its descent into the die, and which is adapted to fill the die thus formed, and an adjustable nail-point gauge, the object being simultaneously to pare two surfaces of any sized nail and giveit its taper shape from the point.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine- A being the frame; B, the die-holder; and a b, two plates of steel, adjustable by means of setscrews at the angles to each other necessary to form a cutting die adapted to the size of the nail vto be pointed; 0 is the adjustable nail-point gauge; C is the plunger; d is the angular punch, adapted to fill the die formed; 0 is the nail-rest; and f is the blow-pipe for removing chips from the surface of the die. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, in which is shown the angular form of the punch. Fig. 3 is a top view of the die-holder, die-pl'ates, nail-point gauge, nail-rest, and a nail,- in its position in the die when the process is completed.

By resting the portion of the nail to be cut on the die-plates a I), over the die, formed as desired between them, with its point in contact with the point gauge as adjusted, and causing the plunger C to descend by means of power, the application of which is manifest, the front part of the end of the punch strikes the nail, and the cutting, nearly resembling that by the edges of shears, commences and progresses until the punch enters the die, to the extent of the thickness of the nail throughout the extent to be cut, when the two edges of the nail will be found to have been pared oil to the requisite taper, and the shavings left on the surfaces of the die-plates (lining the process will have been blown oif by the blow-pipe.

I am aware that the combination of two adjustable die-plates, angular punch, and gauge used for pointing horseshoe-nails is not new, such a combination being described in the patent granted to D. Armstrong, September 29, 1868; but I believe that I- have improved said invention by arranging the punch' so that it shall operate rectilinear-1y instead of circularly, by substituting an adjustable gauge for a stationary gauge, and by the addition of a blast-tube.

WVhat I claim, therefore, is-

In combination with the die-plates and the angular punch, mechanism to reciprocate said punch rectilinear-1y, mechanism to adjust the gauge, and a blast-tube or blowpipe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

CHARLES H. PERKINS.

Witnesses: V.

GEO. LEWIS COOKE, GEO. LEWIS OOOKE, Jr. 

